This is a discussion on Thrills vs. skill within the online poker forums, in the Tournament Poker section; Thrills vs. skill
Poker players will randomly talk about skill but most are there for the thrill of action, rush of playing against the odds, hitting

Thrills vs. skill
Poker players will randomly talk about skill but most are there for the thrill of action, rush of playing against the odds, hitting the miracle outs. These are some examples of results of thrill thinking. However, skill can be randomly compared closely to that of their counterpart because of the rush of knowing their opponent, rush of knowing how to predict their opponents play, getting their opponent to put all of their chips in the middle with only hopes of hitting miracle card; this is an example of skill thinking. Common ground is the rush of playing but what is different, the ability to control the thrill and play for the skill, not let the rush of action compel a person to make mistakes at the wrong time either from thrill thinking or underestimating the skill of our opponents, or even underestimating our own skill against the tournament, the field in the tournament, and the structure of the tournament?

Why is this important? I have been studying how I was going to run deep at America’s Card Room; when they offer the big field in a big payout GTD mtt tournament. For example, the freebuys that have a five hour late registration, I often play their Big 10 mtt’s that have three hour late registration but the field is not as deep and the structure is different. Not majorly different but different.

I knew if I applied my skill and kept the thrill to a minimum I knew this is a major advantage to the rest of the field that was playing for the thrill. Skill is combination of small edges that have to be applied for a long period of time because of the knowing how long a person has to stay alive to reach the big money because of the payout structure. This is hard to assess because of how to apply skill thinking and try not to get caught up in thrill seeking to acquire chips. Understanding, knowing your opponents approach and how they will attempt to gather chips; to stay alive for at least 12 hours will take extreme patience that will border on being too passive; this is the kryptonite to being patient.

Why this is important for me? I have been working on playing my B/A game as long as possible when running these long tournaments, and since this part of my game is a moving target, to get used to a structure of a long mtt live event that might last multiple days’ work mentally also has to be done. These tournaments will help me cut my teeth of playing for a long periods of time to get used to this method. I have commented on how I would like to play on internet then switch to live tournaments that have no idea who or where I came from.

I have finished short of my goals in previous attempts but last Sunday; I finished third in the $1.00 buy in with five hours of late registration, $3,000.00 GTD. I had to play for 12 hours to make it to the final three but since my goal was to keep my decisions easy and put the harder decisions on my opponents. I still became tired and less focused as time went along. However keeping my decisions easy was the key to understanding how well my skill was playing against the many different tables and opponents. I did have my moments of thrills but I understood when this was happening and adjusted when I needed to along the way. However, I believe it takes more skill and fewer thrills to achieve the right focus for a long grind of this type of mtt. Hope all is going well and hope everyone has success in their individual endeavors.

#2

7th April 2015, 3:55 AM

STL FAN [103]

Online Poker at: ACR

Game: Holdem

A follow up after posting; just won the $2000.00 GTD Free buy. Again having to set there for around 7 hours; keeping my decisions simple. I even simplified my approach further because of how the structure and dynamic of this tournament was a little different than the first. There was an add on and we just started out with 1000 chips and $1.00 for 2500 rebuy chips. 10,000 chip add on after 18th level. I learned quite a lot from the first time. I scattered my mistakes better than from the previous tournament, just like a pitcher who knows it is better to scatter hits than give them up in bunches. Mistakes for me are observed in the same way.

I had two spots one, a read from a button raise from the same player at the final table with 5or 6 left. They were weak and I shoved in the sb with A5 suited, they have folded before when I held a stronger ace in another situation before we went to the final table. This player was raising too frequently on the button because of how infrequent the bb defended. The other was a preflop shove from an early position player just in the money and I knew they held a PP under AK I put them on JJ or QQ; they had JJ. Both times I did out draw them and the second time the person called my A5s hand they had A8o. These were the two toughest decisions I had all night, one just inside the money the other at the FT. I made other small mistakes but these were the two that could have cost me the most. However, my read and the circumstances; allowed me to push the envelope in both cases. I would have loved to have my decisions clean when I had all my money in the middle pre flop, however, knowing is a moving target as well just like my A game.

I try and not over value my hands pre flop. Playing post flop is where my opponents make repeatable mistakes. The mistakes from knowing where they are in their hands; either easy to exploit or lay my hand down. Those decisions made me the extra chips to keep hanging around to potentially trap my opponent. Patience and discipline are what each player battles, and then knowing when to push the edge. I am looking forward to the High Five series on the 8th.Hope everyone had a great Easter.

#3

7th April 2015, 7:54 AM

seghill [232]

Poker at: 888 poker

Game: Omaha

well done - concentration overlong periods and remembering reads on players can really play off - so many play tired or lose their concentration that the way you play gives you a great advantage

#4

13th October 2015, 7:30 PM

marinaki85 [91]

Online Poker at: pokerstars

Game: holdem

from my experience its 20 skills and 80 luck...the luckiest wins

#5

17th October 2015, 6:56 PM

beastisdabest [16]

Nice win. I seem to do well in the freerolls on ACR as well. I do lose often enough with AK AA and KK but it doesn't seem difficult to get my chips in with the best hand. Even the final tables seem extremely weak. Most of the players that make it there got there on a tiny bit of skill and an overwhelming amount of luck. I have played about 50 of the $10 dollar on demand freerolls and final tabled 12 of them, winning 11.

#6

13th November 2015, 8:43 AM

MrBadAss [134]

Online Poker at: ACR

Game: holdem

re: Poker & Thrills vs. skill

ofcourse the luck is apart of this game, but in the long run its 100% skill 0% luck, for big hits its 80% and 20% luck

#7

15th November 2015, 1:11 AM

joe777 [2,716]

With 5 community card on the board,its hard to say that luck has 0 equity in the game.